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It was a horrifically frigid morning, and everyone at the scene knew it. The snow drifting about in the swirling currents of wind had fallen a couple of days ago, but it filled the air with a chilling diamond dust like it still had yet to kiss the ground. The sort of day in which businesses are far more likely than not to allow their workers to remain home and keep warm, as almost anyone likely will, and only the most select few are available at all.
In weather like this, Klint was glad to have a thick, high-collared cape to take shelter under with a hat to protect his head. The Scotland Yard officers, however, still only wore their typical uniforms, which could protect them from most weather. Unfortunately, those uniforms could do fairly little against weather like this, as several of them could be seen attempting various tricks to keep warm. Their only mercy was that the death they were inspecting seemed fairly simple and devoid of foul play.
Even with his dependable trench coat and bowler hat, Inspector Gregson couldn’t quite enjoy the simplicity of the case any more than his subordinates. The man himself was shivering, trying to eat his fish and chips while they were still warm so they couldn't freeze solid.
Standing tall in the wind as he was, Genshin's usual cross-armed stance looked more and more like an increasing effort not to shudder. In any other place with less people, he would wrap Genshin in his cloak without any hesitation, if not at least offer to shelter him. For now, the best he could manage without drawing any undesired attention was staying close to the Japanese detective. In response to his proximity, Genshin ever so slightly turned towards him.
“I hope we get a report back from the coroner soon, Inspector," Klint remarked. “I would hate for some of your boys to get frostbite out here.”
Gregson hummed. “I’d have to agree, My Lord. If it turns out this was all an opium death like we first suspected earlier, we can get out of this wind to finish everything up in two shakes.”
“‘Shakes’ is certainly a choice word for such a day as this,” muttered Genshin, the quaver in his voice only audible to the lord beside him. Klint could only hum in agreement, adjusting his hat so it didn’t get carried off by a sudden gust.
If nothing else, there wasn’t much to look at. It was a fairly nondescript alley in a fairly nondescript street in the East End, with a little pub not far away. An officer had already asked around the pub in question. The man who was found dead in this alley left a crime scene that was, for all intents and purposes, fairly clean. No fatal injuries, no marks of strangulation, no leftover potential weapons of any kind, or at least nothing with any proof that it was used as such. The pub’s owner said the man drank quite a bit last night before he stumbled out, but that was all that there was to say. There was also a bottle of some unlabeled substance that was surmised to contain opium, hence the suspicion of the Inspector, which was sent with the body itself for the coroner to inspect.
Frankly, it was a rather boring affair, cold notwithstanding, and despite waiting and looking at nothing for upwards of an hour, there was no sign of a certain independent detective and his trusty partner, which usually meant the matter was perfectly simple and straightforward; probably not even murder.
It couldn’t have been soon enough when an officer who went to deliver the body returned with the news. “The report from the coroner’s office, sir. The bottle found with the body was determined to be laudanum. Cause of death was determined to be a mix of heavy drinking and opium usage,” the man said, presenting the envelope holding the autopsy report.
That statement alone had Klint letting out a long, cloudy sigh. Finally, no more reason to stay out here in the cold. Finally, an opportunity to squirrel Genshin away.
Gregson nodded, giving the paper inside a quick once-over. “‘Course it was that nasty combination. You two, find the victim’s next of kin. The rest can clean up and head on back. Asogi, since we don’t have a murder to be concerned with, you're free to turn out."
“Of course, Inspector," Genshin said with a bow before leaving the scene. Klint, of course, wasn't far behind, all but herding his lover into the awaiting carriage that bore his family crest. Genshin, of course, seemed quick to notice what was going on, but was evidently too cold to even complain to the lord about not needing his interference.
“Heading back to the manor already, sir?” Will asked.
"If you’d be so kind, Will, yes,” Klint replied. "Today's death wasn't a proper homicide. In any case, the sooner we get out of this cold, the better."
The kindly coachman only nodded, closing the carriage door behind them. From there, it wasn’t long before they started moving, and Genshin’s shivering was far more noticeable. It was still cold, but at least the snowy wind couldn’t reach them in the enclosed cabin. It was also safe from anyone’s sight for Klint to drape half of his cloak around his lover’s shoulders, wrapping an arm around his waist. In response, the samurai quietly leaned into the warmth, pressing against his side.
“If I may be so bold to ask, Genshin, do you not have a warmer coat for days such as this?” Klint asked softly, grabbing the other man’s hands with his free one. He could feel them through his gloves, ice cold and raw from the wind, regardless of how the man himself tried to shield them with his usual cross-armed stance. His face wasn't much better; just as dry, red, and blotchy as his hands, like he’d been burned. “Perhaps even a cape?”
“Unfortunately, no,” Genshin replied, letting the lord rub some warmth back into his unfortunate hands. “Seishiro might, but any outerwear for him has to be tailored to his stature. I can't say I expected London to be this cold in the winter. In Japan, only a specific region is ever struck by such harsh winters: Hokkaido. As you might imagine, I don’t live in that area.”
Klint only clicked his tongue in response. “We will certainly need to remedy that in the future. For the time being, however, I imagine Adelia will insist on keeping you in the manor for the day to warm up. Thank Heaven there’s no criminal case to give us reason to remain in the cold. Frostbite can be a cruel thing indeed. I can only hope you never see its worst effects.”
Once they reached the Van Zieks estate, the two reluctantly left their small haven, immediately getting clawed at by the icy wind that left them both shivering. The lord still kept his lover close, however, as they left the carriage, telling the old driver that he should turn in early and get out of the weather just as they intended to. The walkway to the front doors was dutifully cleared, but the wind still enjoyed sprinkling more gritty powder over it as they hurried towards their proper sanctuary. A familiar solace was the door being opened for them almost the moment Klint knocked on the wood, letting them inside so they could be safe within the manor’s walls at last.
Balmung, naturally, came bounding into the grand entrance hall before too long. With a bark of elation and a whipping tail, he alternated between the two men with such uncontained joy that it’d be impossible not to mirror the hound’s open-mouthed grin.
“There’s my good boy,” Klint said proudly, petting his beloved dog in between removing items from his person. Items such as his hat and winter cape, his trademark red coat and sashes, his sword belt, and his boots. “Yes, we’re glad to be home as well, Balmung. Did you expect us to be home so soon?”
Genshin only had his own boots and jacket to remove along with his own sword belt, grimacing when his hands ached to touch the ice-cold, wet fabric and leather as he changed into a pair of indoor slippers. Balmung was quick to pick up on the fact that his master’s lover was more in need of him than the lord himself, licking and nuzzling at his icy hands and sidling up against his legs.
“Yes, I know you're very warm,” Genshin noted, scratching the hound along Balmung’s long neck. “Clearly someone has been lounging by the fire all morning. I would certainly enjoy doing the same if I had the chance.” His hands hurt far less touching the sleek fur of the jovial black hound, too. That wasn’t too surprising, what with any form of heat against his half-frozen hands being a welcome solace.
“A splendid idea, indeed, after the morning we’ve had,” agreed Klint. “An idea which I’m certain Adelia will have no quarrel with.”
“And you would be correct, my love,” crooned the woman in question, smiling warmly in her approach. “Genshin, how lovely of you to visit, darling. I do hope the weather wasn’t terribly cruel to you boys at whatever crime scene you were called to.”
“Yes, well, we had been waiting outside with the wind and snow for an hour at the very least, waiting for something to turn up, seeing as we concluded that there was nothing to find,” Klint admitted, still sporting that playful grin as always. “Once the coroner’s office confirmed as much, I decided to bring our dear detective home with me. As I’m certain that spending a day such as this here at the manor is far more enjoyable compared to staying in his little flat all day without company.”
The detective in question rolled his eyes, refusing to meet Klint’s smile. “The eventual results from St. Synner’s were indeed a s-small mercy,” Genshin added with a barely noticeable shudder in his voice, “that the death we were investigating was not, in fact, a proper murder.”
Adelia’s smile suddenly fell as she seemed to fixate on the detective’s condition. Klint could already see her slide into her more fretful tendencies, striding over and taking hold of his hands only to balk at his condition. “Good Heavens, Genshin, you’re so cold! And look; your sweet face has been nipped by the frost! Standing out in that arctic wind for over an hour, you must have nearly caught your death out there! You simply must come and warm up in the parlour, both of you.”
Ah, yes, just what he was expecting once she caught onto the situation. Needless to say, Klint saw no issue being all but herded towards a room with a fireplace, especially while Balmung was happily following at their heels. However Genshin still tried to resist the pink-haired woman with a weak, “Please, blossom, I can manage myself just fine. There's no need for such concern.”
“Nonsense, darling, you're freezing!" Adelia fussed, pulling him to sit on a plush sofa in front of the roaring hearth, her husband sitting beside him. “You two stay here by the fire. I’ll have some warming tea brewed. And do help yourselves to the blankets in the meantime.”
“Don’t bother resisting her, my dear,” Klint said when Genshin looked about to call after her as she was hurrying off. “Believe me. I learned better while we were courting. She’s a natural mother hen.” He grabbed a couple of nearby throw blankets, easily slinging them around his and Genshin’s shoulders, pulling him close. The other man was still terribly cold and properly shivering now, but dressing down to only their shirts allowed him to absorb the heat of the fireplace and his lover far more readily. Balmung already decided to flop over on the large dog bed in front of the hearth, only proving Genshin correct with a modicum of envy.
“I cannot even say I’m surprised,” sighed the detective, with a small and exasperated smile. “I suppose I should have known better than to expect anything less, even when we haven’t been in any imminent danger.”
The lord only laughed, taking hold of his hands once more. Without his gloves as a barrier, it was far easier to feel the cold of the other swordsman’s raw hands, and the safety of the manor easily left him free to eventually examine his similarly chapped face as well, reddened by the weather’s relentless abuse.
Klint moved with all the care he could muster, pressing and rubbing warmth back into skin that had surely been numbed with cold. The fingertips were still a bit red, and Klint brought them close to kiss them slowly, one by one; an apology for not being able to get him away from that scene or lend him his cape earlier. His lover's hands were very dry against his lips, and his face looked to be in the same condition. It'd be wise to apply some sort of ointment to those areas at some point today. Just looking at them is painful enough, but they feel nearly like sandpaper.
Genshin himself seemed to have no complaints about the blatant affection now that they were somewhere private, even if his cheeks were trying to color more from embarrassment than cold. He was all but sagging into Klint's arms and leaning into his warm touch. His eyelids were fluttering, as well, like the influx of warmth made him especially drowsy.
“Have you been getting enough sleep, my dear?" Klint inquired, cupping the other man’s rough, icy cheek and thumbing the dry skin. “Or does being warmed always have such a soporific effect on you?"
Genshin hummed softly, eyebrows knitting together in a bid to focus against the drowsiness weighing on him. “The flat I share with Jigoku is a bit too cold to sleep comfortably as of late," he admitted, his voice starting to slur. “The bedclothes provided and the gas stove in the flat never manage to be enough. Some nights we fear the question of freezing overnight, especially since this dreadful snow."
Klint frowned, holding him a bit closer. "You can sleep here if you like, Genshin. Adelia wouldn't mind any more than I would, you know.”
Genshin said nothing, weakly trying to resist as he was carefully guided to rest his head in the crook of Klint's neck. Despite this, he ultimately didn't move away when allowed the chance, letting the blanket be pulled tighter around him. Klint couldn’t help but smile at his lover growing a bit more tactile as he relaxed. It never ceased to amaze him, how quickly something as simple as an embrace was able to melt the otherwise uptight detective.
That's it, my dear. Just stay here and rest. It's perfectly safe to sleep here while I hold you.
The lord started humming, one hand stroking careful circles up and down Genshin’s back in time with the melody, while the other held those cold, rough hands in Klint’s lap. It struck a sweet balance between gently ushering Genshin towards falling asleep and ensuring nothing could break the spell he was weaving to do so. No doubt the fire was helping as well, crackling away and dancing with light. Many a colder night Klint remembered falling asleep watching the beauty of a fiery hearth in his childhood, and Barok as a child would do the same.
For the moment, though, as Genshin was entranced by the flames, Klint could only watch him. There was just something so rewarding about watching someone you love fall asleep in your arms, warm, safe, and content. Even back when their relationship began, Klint wouldn't have minded Genshin falling asleep in the embrace of his newfound lovers. There were certainly a few times where he noticed Genshin drawing especially close to drifting off that lazy morning.
It made it so satisfying to finally see him surrender to his own comfort now. His humming slowly trailed off at the sight of soft gray eyes sliding shut, the sound of a soft sigh into his shoulder lulling into a very slight snore. Klint couldn’t help but grin at his success and enjoy the endearing reward that came from his efforts.
When Adelia returned to find them that way, even she couldn't help but coo, seeing the usually inflexible samurai dreaming in her husband's arms. Setting down the tea tray she was carrying on the table, she shared a kiss with her husband and joined them on the couch. With her trademark skill, she carefully loosened their lover’s long hair and relieved him of his tie, to set them aside for his own comfort; Klint even helped to undo a button or two on his shirt as well.
“Are you going to have any tea, love?” she asked in a murmur, taking a blanket to lay it over her legs. “I can take him for you.”
“Only if you let me take your other side, my dearest,” Klint bargained at a similar volume. “And perhaps a portion of that afghan.”
Adelia smiled playfully, happy to join his game. “Come now; you truly needn’t ask.”
Klint laughed as he conceded, leaning over to slowly ease Genshin’s head into his wife’s lap, giving him the freedom to stand up. Despite their care, however, the sleeping man stirred and turned to face upward, eyes fluttering. “Hm? When did I…? Klint…?”
“Shhh," Adelia hushed, threading her fingers through his hair. “It’s nothing to fret about, darling. Go back to sleep; we’ll be here."
The samurai hummed softly in acknowledgment, turning to face her and pulling his legs in to curl up on the couch. Both his lovers cooed at his sleepy behavior, Klint leaning down to kiss his cheek while Adelia kissed his temple. While the lord took a cup of tea from the table, his wife busied herself with their lover’s hair, massaging Genshin's scalp and gently pulling any tangles out. With a drawn-out sigh, his entire body melted, fast asleep once more.
It took a bit of careful maneuvering to resituate themselves, now with Genshin's head comfortably in Adelia's lap and Klint on her other side sharing the blanket over her legs, but any reactions from the sleeping man were thankfully minimal. Klint happily drank the tea his wife brewed, tasting ginger and orange peel and other spices sweetened with honey.
“I didn’t think he’d fall asleep like this so soon,” Adelia noted. “Was it perhaps from being called to a scene so early in the morning?”
“He said that his usual flat with his compatriot was too cold for them to sleep properly,” Klint relayed to his wife. “Though the early summons could also be used in conjunction with that as an explanation. He began to doze off nearly the moment he was sufficiently warm.”
The woman frowned, pausing to reach for the unfortunate chapped hand resting beside her thigh, peering out from under the blanket Genshin was still wrapped in. Despite Klint’s best efforts, it was probably still cold as his wife gently squeezed his fingers. “He didn’t even have a proper overcoat for the weather today, did he?”
Her husband paused after he emptied his cup, before he all but wilted, shaking his head. “He admitted to me that only his compatriot who shares the flat might have something of the sort. I imagine we should be able to help supply him with a proper overcoat or cape for any future cases that necessitate being out in the cold. However, knowing him, he may still be hesitant if it doesn’t allow him proper use of his sword in the event of an attack.”
“Not only that, but I doubt he would accept such a gift outright, especially if it's excessively expensive or visibly opulent. A simple overcoat would more than suffice, one which he can exchange for his usual blazer on colder days such as this. As for where he ought to sleep in such cruel winter weather… it would ease my heart to have him stay here.”
It wasn’t just a matter of personal preference. A cheap flat in London, like that shared by Genshin and his friend, was rarely equipped for any extreme weather such as this, especially one whose primary source of heat was a gas stove and only the landlord was provided with a fireplace. Meanwhile, the manor had a multitude of rooms that sported a fireplace and necessary stock of wood logs, including the bedrooms. Even outside of dreadfully cold weather, it wasn’t uncommon for flats to have very few windows or none at all due to the now-repealed window tax, resulting in no access to fresh air at any time of year in which it might be necessary, such as in the summer.
“I should say the same, Adelia," agreed Klint as they rested their heads together. “I dare say this is the most restful sleep he’s had since the weather has grown so poor. And we both know how tranquil he is anytime we hold him.”
“Oh, absolutely,” his wife replied. “I would even say that the proof is right here with us.” She was already finger-combing Genshin’s hair into sections, twisting them into a braid. Ever since Genshin first allowed her to do so in their new arrangement, she rapidly grew to love braiding his hair when he was in reach. It seemed that even if the current angle was a bit different from usual, she managed without issue. It wasn't surprising that she couldn't resist after the concern towards their lover’s troubles with the cold was discussed to her satisfaction. Thankfully, Genshin rarely minded having his hair braided himself, awake or asleep, content to let her touch soothe him as it was always capable of doing. It was mesmerizing to watch her fingers move with such skill in weaving the braid, let alone with Genshin sleeping peacefully through the entire process.
“Shall I have Anna fetch something for his skin?” Klint eventually asked once she finished the braid.
Adelia nodded. “Yes. It should be safe to apply it without waking him. I doubt it will cause him any pain either.”
When sleep eventually saw fit to relax its hold on Genshin, he awoke slowly. He could already feel the weight of his hair having been freed from his typical ribbon and braided by hands that weren’t his own. Just as he could feel and even smell that some sort of salve or ointment was smoothed across his face and rubbed into his hands. Nothing itched or stung like it did before, when his very skin wanted to crack like thin ice. Compared to earlier, the difference was night and day.
He wasn’t even all that surprised to find himself laying on his side with his head pillowed on Adelia’s blanket-covered lap, even when he fell asleep on Klint’s shoulder. It was comfortable either way: he could still feel the heat of the fireplace that crackled away as the perfect background noise, and the soft blanket Klint gave him was still lovingly wrapped around his shoulders. He could even hear Adelia humming a tune of her own, slowly stroking his head to the melody.
When Genshin turned to look up, Adelia smiled down at him. Klint was dozing on her now, too, his hair mussed enough to prove he wasn't spared from the magic of his wife’s fingertips either.
“Good morning, Genshin, darling,” she cooed, smoothing down the shorter locks of hair she couldn’t braid. The touch alone nearly lulled his eyelids shut all over again. “We took the liberty of tending to your frostnip during your nap. Are you feeling any better?”
“Yes, actually,” he replied, sitting up and letting the blanket fall. “Very much so. I suppose I needed to catch up on some rest somewhere decently warm. How long was I asleep?”
“Only a little less than two hours,” she said. “Klint’s own lack of sleep after the early summons has caught up with him as well, as you can see. A bit surprising, though, seeing as the tea I brewed is meant to warm the body, not necessarily to help one sleep. Feel free to have some, by the way.”
Genshin hummed at the sight, righting himself to sit properly on the couch. The tea set Adelia had brought still sat on the table, a small tin nearby. With a sense of nostalgia, he poured himself a cup. Just from holding the cup, he relished the warmth in his hands; even more so as he drank, letting the heat fill him and spread from the inside out. If Klint weren’t taking a nap of his own, he’d probably find something to comment on, refusing to let the peace last.
“Dinner should be ready shortly, darling,” Adelia said. “You’re welcome to join us if you’d like. Perhaps even spend the night at the manor, to help you sleep more comfortably.”
He paused, all at once realizing that Klint told her about his recent troubles with the cold that didn’t involve the frostnip. Because of course he did. He would be rather irritated by the fact that the lord confided in her on the matter over his head (both in a figurative and literal sense), but the offer was altogether more than tempting. He would greatly prefer eating with the lord and lady rather than alone in that cold flat, as was wont to occur with Jigoku at the mercy of Lord Stronghart’s downright horrid perception of time. To say nothing of potentially having a good night’s sleep, in a warm room and a warm bed. Knowing them, they would probably even wish to hold him through the night.
“I would be amenable to accepting that offer,” he decided. “You truly are too kind, My Lady.”
Adelia giggled, cupping his face and guiding him to lean in. Without disturbing her husband, she kissed him on the lips, meeting his eyes as she let him pull away. “Think nothing of it, darling. We love you ever so dearly, and we can’t bear to leave you alone with your troubles when we can help. You deserve as much.”
He couldn’t help smiling to himself, returning to his tea. There was really no way he couldn’t adore them in return. Perhaps it was why Klint brought him here in the first place, or why Adelia insisted on all but squirreling him away to the more private parlour over the drawing room. He felt safer and more at peace here than he did in most of London.
“Also, darling, don’t think I didn’t notice you calling me ‘blossom,’ earlier,” Adelia pointed out, a mischievous smile on her lips.
He froze, thankful that he didn’t choke as he felt his face redden. “Oh, ah… did I? Apologies. It must have slipped due to the fatigue and the stress of the cold.”
She giggled again, reaching up once more to smooth down a stray lock of short hair. “Fret not, my sweet, noble samurai. It’s adorable, and a joy to hear you’ve come around to using your own endearments with us. I’d love to hear any ways you might address my dear husband, as well.”
Genshin sighed, but nevertheless moved closer to make it easier for the woman to reach without moving. “I’ll be sure to let you know of anything I come up with. But for the moment, I’m open to ideas.”
Adelia considered the offer with a long hum. She glanced at her still-dozing husband, then looked back at Genshin with a grin dripping with sly glee. The Japanese man could already see the plan forming behind her eyes, and he was already prepared to agree.
“It can wait until tonight. We can both embarrass him then.”